"Preach
     the Gospel
       always, and
    when necessary
    use words"
-St Francis of Assisi-
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Faithful Citizenship
For additional information on "Faithful Citizenship" visit the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' web site

Advocates for Justice
Legislative Network(s)
Faithful Citizenship
The purpose of this legislative network web page is to give the St. Francis community a starting point to information on important legislative issues. 
Faithful Citizenship & USCCB Media Resources/Articles.

Also, parishoners may wish to contact their representatives to voice their opinion on the issues mentioned on the linked web-site networks found here.   (The St. Francis Parish Peace & Justice Committee members do invite you to take action on some specific legislative issues here.)

Also, especially during the months prior to an election, each of us must make decisions as to how we will vote, and, we seek to consider the important issues before voting. 

The Catholic Church in the United States does NOT endorse candidates or political parties.  It speaks only on issues.  The official positions of the church concerning the election are stated in the document Forming Consciences for Faithful citizenship (you can read this in its entirety at: www.faithfulcitizenship.org ) (and in documents issued by the Michigan Catholic Conference.  All other documents and statements that you may come across are the opinions of individual Catholics and groups and may or may not represent the official teaching of the Church.

The Church has important wisdom to share on the issues, and, offers reflections on the various issues.  These are the official positions of the Church.   They are given to help you better form your consciences and to make decisions regarding the elections.   We encourage you to read these articles.   Ultimately, each person must make their own decision and vote as their conscience informs them.   Hopefully the articles will help you in making those decisions.
 

Election 2008 Information


Faithful Citizenship
Media Resources/Articles

 
Voting by Conscience:  A Reflection on Our Parish FORUM Bulletin Series

The series of articles(Sept 21 - Nov 2, 2008) carried seven matters that are pertinent to the upcoming election because of the moral implications that are involved.  They dealt with immigration, the environment, abortion, poverty, health care, and the workplace with this last article on conscience intended to tie them all together. 

The common thread is that all these articles, like those dealing with other comparable concerns of the bishops such as genocide, torture, unjust war, and the death penalty, involve life issues.    And they deal with fundamental human rights that impact not only the quality and dignity of life but also its very existence. 

     Relative to these life issues, pertinent points that the bishops have stressed include:

· “A Catholic may not vote for a candidate who takes a position in favor of an intrinsic evil such as abortion or racism, if the voter’s intent is to support that position.  At the same time a voter should not use a candidate’s opposition to an intrinsic evil to justify indifference or inattentiveness to other important moral issues involving human life and dignity.”

· “As Catholics we are not single-issue voters.  A candidate’s position on a single issue is not sufficient to guarantee a voter’s support.  Yet a candidate’s position on a single issue that involves an intrinsic evil, such as support for legal abortion or promotion of racism may legitimately lead a voter to disqualify a candidate from receiving support.”

· “Opposition to intrinsically evil acts also prompts us to recognize our positive duty to contribute to the common good and act in solidarity with those in need.  Both opposing evil and doing good are essential.  The basic right to life implies and is linked to other human rights that every person needs to live and thrive – including food, shelter, health care, education, and meaningful work.  The use of the death penalty, hunger, lack of health care or housing, human trafficking, the human and moral costs of war, and unjust immigration policies are some of the serious moral issues that challenge our consciences and require us to act.” 

See "Voting by Conscience"   (by Father Brian Bransfield, in the Secretariat of Evangelization and Catechesis of the United Sates Conference of Catholic Bishops) at:  faithfulcitizenship.org  - or see: www.usccb.org/faithfulcitizenship/FCStatement.pdf


Parishoners may wish to contact their representatives to voice their opinion on the issues.  Here below are a few different
Legislative Advocacy Networks:

Read our ACTION ALERT(s)...Click here to see our ACTION ALERT(s).


The Michigan Catholic Conference (MCC) - Catholic Legislative Advocacy Network:  Visit the Michigan Catholic Conference web page www.micatholicconference.org     To bring a strong Catholic grassroots voice to the State Capitol!

 
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Legislative Advocate

Click here to join the CRS legislative network to receive timely information about how you can help advocate for legislation that will positively impact the lives of our brothers and sisters around the world. Or visit
www.catholicrelief.org/legislativenetwork.cfm on our website.

 
Catholic Charities USA - legislative issues
A Special Edition of AdvoFax is now available online by going to our web site at:  www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/.  Click on Advocacy, and then click on AdvoFax.

 

OTHER events & notes:

St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Parish Social Ministry Office, 
2150 Frieze Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48104

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